Machine for playing games



Nov. 9, 1943.

.1. J. HICKEY .MACHINE FOR PLAYING GAMES Filed June 10, 1942 4- Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOI/N ///CK EV BY M 5 A TTORNEYS Nam- 9, 1943.

J. J. HICKEY MACHINE FOR PLAYING GAMES Filed June 10, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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A T To'E/VEYS Nov. 9, 1943. .1. J. HICKEY MACHINE FOR PLAYING, GAMES File'd June 10, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

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Nov. 9, 1943. J. J. HICKE Y 2,334,092

MACHINE FOR PLAYING GAMES Filed June 10, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTO/P/VEKS with .a deck of 52 .or ,53-playing cards. a ,An object of the present invention is the pro Patented Nov. 9, 1943 UNITED s'r 'rEs P IENT m John Ji flickey,ArIington NJJ. ApplicationjJune l o,"1942, ienial N0.;Aglfi424 I I momma "(cr ate- 143 w I This invention relates ;to lgames and ,refiers "J more particularly to a machine, for playing -poker and similar, games which are usually played vision of a game playing machine which can be conveniently used 'bycrippled or aged gpers ons,

or persons afflicted with Various nervous ail merits, who are unable to holdrshuflie or deal playing cards, for' the purpose .of' playing garious games similar to those which; are played "by means, of cards.

- Another object is the entertaining substitute for card games, consisting of a machine the operations of whichreplace various manipulations which. must be car-- ried out in the course of a'card game. t

; Afurther object is to substitute 'playing eards 'by units which are not affected by ordinary winds,-thus making it possible to playcardrgames outdoors, for instance, on lawns, peaches decks of moving-steamships.

I r A stilliurther object is :to eliminateslow and monotonous *shufilingfiand :dealing of playing cards which afiord undue advantages to players; I

with long practice, and :to substitute therefor ;a

.more rapid, efiicient and uniform maclz 1ine shuffling and-machine-dealing .of playing; units.

Yet anotherl object is to eliminate the ineffioient and inconvenient manual -shufiling ;and dealing of two a decks necessary in various oard games, suchnas stud poker, and to substitute therefor. efficient and convenient shuffling-rand dealing of unitsequivalent to two decks of cards.

Still another object is to provide an entertaining departure in card gamesgwhich is; most suitable for a head table at poker and bridge Y -parties. l j

.aOt her objects of the presentiinvention will b ecome apparent in "the icourse of the following specification.

H :In -.-accomplishing the objects of the present provision of a novel and abling the player: to dna-w;additiqnaliballs. thermore, the table is provided with channels visible to the players wherein balls may he cumulated, thereby making it possible toplayi studpoker, ias-zivell as draw poker.- Variousparts of the table are provided With inclined surfaces the ,,following -detailed description when ,taken in Figured ,is a perspective vi'ew of aataple or machinewconstructed inaccordance with the l principles .oLthe present invention" Figure 2 is a top viewwith a part of aloasing removed. I

-Eigure 3 is alongitudinally section-alon t 1ines.33.of;FTi gure2. V Eigure 4 is a transverse section; .alon the ,line -4'Q Fi l -t v i Figure 5 i a l ngi u n l -@s t q ialqng th lined-5 of Figure2.

n Figurefi is ;aitransverseisection along the line -.:Fligure x8 a perspective wiew of .a somewhat n a wheel illustrated ;,in Fi ures \8 .and 9.

iIhe {machines shown ,in the drawing are used 9 e s mfi sim to iho ap a ed Ebylcamjs.

. ,Pl-aying, pardslare gsu bstituted by 1 balls Zil which invention it was found desirable to provide a .table carrying a wheel wherein .the mixing :oi

balls or other rotary elements serving ,as ai sub .stitute for-cards takes place. The rolling of the balls, which constitutes ,amost important fea- .tureyof-the -g-ames, is c aused by gravitys ='I-he ,balls-are introduced by Ethe wheel into various channels which lead to the places occupied by 1 ,players in the course oflthetgame, these places being provided with suitable pockets; on holders for vthe balls which are concealed jfromsother players, as well as :withmeansdiscarding roneflor more of itheseballs andimeans showing the .win: ,;55

maybe made ,ofpwopd, Qmi ary 101' (magnifyin ,glass, porcelain plastics, ivory, cementgor any ro he ita e magma etbausma be made ,in aconvenientv sizes rangir'ig.irom threeegua ltters .of, ans inch iooneland one-halfuinches in diamet r d ma be ro n p ru o iw s hierea We recognized component of ordinary playing cards, namely, black forspades, blue for; clubs, ,redzfor ghearts and whitecor ivory for diamonds. ilhe gballs are numbered, ilettered and decoratedqin a pnianner similar to that, provided. on -.playin g ,cards,;. ;poss i b-l y with the additions of, luminous i ir ngs;a t efie i ima lnif-yi i-glasslj Figures 1 to '7 of the drawingsshow 'ainoker l yin m hine ons i utin to 2 lq ata l Th rtab imayab zm w vwooda d metalipart or it may be made wholly or in combination of metal, plastics or other suitable materials. The shape of the table may be varied to suit diiferent requirements. Obviously the table may be substituted by a case or a box.

The table top 2| shown in Figure 1 is about forty two inches long and twenty four inches wide with places for three players on each of the two longer sides, these places being designated by numerals l'to 6;-

' Y When using-the machine, the dealer of the poker game is substituted by an operator. I The players in the first. and sixth locations are ins... positions enabling them to operate the machine J conveniently and any player can assume the ment with an immovable platform 4|, by a lever 42 which is hinged at 43 to a lowerplatform 44' of the machine. The immovable platform 44-;

is also somewhat inclined. The lever 42 is connected with arms 45 carrying a rod 48 which is v provided with a knob ll (Figure 1 The rod 46 operation by shifting to one of these two positions.

The top of the table 2! has inclinedsurfaces directed toward openings 90 which lead. to a 1 hopper 29 constituting the bottom of the table.

' "The machine -comprises a mixing wheel 23,

a device 24 for-allocating the hands, a'device 25 for dealing additionally-drawn playing balls and adevice 25 which forms open'channels for the ballsand which may be used in thegame of-stud The mixing wheel 23 is illustrated in greater detail in Figures 3 and 6 and comprises a casing 21 which'has anl'open side directed toward the table, so that theinterior of the wheel is always in communication with a ball-transmitting chamber 22 constituting the highest position of the ends of which are joined to the side walls I8 of' themain casing of the machine. v The support '3! constitutes an inner verticarwall of the main casing. The crank 32 is used to rotate the shaft 33 and the casing 27 connected therewith.

The rim of the casing 21 carries a plurality of baflies 33 each of which has a straight portion 35 and a hook-shaped portion 36 provided with a surface .34 whichis inclined in the direction toward the chambers 28 and 29 of the table.

v The wheel 23 may be rotated in opposite directions and may contain a large number. of balls 20. When the wheelis rotated in' onedirection, the baiiies' 33 will lift the balls which rest in the casing, various heights up to six inches and project'them' on top of the mass of balls in-the hopper and willrotate the whole mass thus mixing them' thoroughly. When the wheel is rotated in the opposite direction, the hookshaped portions 36 of the baflies 33' will raise'the balls while continuing to mix them. Due to the inclination of the surfaces 34 upon which-the balls rest, they will be-able to roll conveniently into the chamber 28.

Thedi'stributing devices 24 and 25 are enclosed "by a casing 31. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the

balls" which are'ledby guides 40, roll upon a casing;

The swingable platform 38 is held in a position in "which it is somewhat inclined and in aligncarrying the knob M extends through a curved I slot 48'which is formed in a side wall of the cas-'. 5

ing 31.

-In-,the: position shown in:-Figures land 3, the knob 41 is in the left-hand end of; the slot 48 and the platform 38 is supported by the lever 42. jWhen the knob 21 is moved .manually into the righthand end of the slot M3, the lever 42 will be swung'upon its hinges lii and will lower the p1a,tfO 33 which swings downwardly upon its hinges 39.

r The .upper immovable platform M carries guides 49 and partitions which form six separate channels 5%. The use of the partitions or rods 56 having edges which are sharp at theend like pencil points at the entrance to the channels; permits considerable latitude and flexibility in the shiftingof the rolling'balls ZDintothechan nels. The discharge from the battles 33-01? the wheel'23is only a few balls 'atatime, and repeated blows of succeeding small lots ofbalIs tend to overcome clogging of the channel en-' trance and to fill each channel'54; The .maxi-. mum capacity'ofthe six channels 54 is thirty w balls, leaving twenty twoballsupon the inclined A rod 5! may extend across the channels 54 above the platform' ll to serve as a"- platform 38.

convenient stop for the ballsrolling down jthe platform. The location of the rod 5l'is prefer? ably so selected that each of the channels 54 will u p hold five balls situated upon the platform 4| and l extending from the outer edge55 of themovable platform 38 to the rod 5|.

Six pins 52-are carried by the may besituated in a separate channel 54 directly {in front of the outer edge 55 to prevent the balls 20 from reachingthe channels 54.""All the, j I

pins-52 are raised'to withdraw the stops-53 from the channels 54 when six players participate in a game." However, when thereis a smaller num I ber of players, so that a number of locations marked 1 to 6 ing-Figure 1- is' unoccupied-g the pins 52 provided with corresponding numerals are depressed and 'then their stops 53 'will p re reaching the corresponding vent balls 20 from channels 54. I

in a side of the casing 31. A lever 51 has one end connected with the protruding end of the I rod 5| while the opposite end of-the lever-'51.

carried a weight 585 'I'helever 51 is mounted intermediate its ends and outside of the casing 31 upon a pivot 59 which is carried by the c'as- 7 ing 31. V

The'platform -38 carries a rod liflextends directly below the lever "51. so

that it will support'the lever 51 in the position I shown in Figure 1.

When the knob 41 is moved to the right hand end of 'the'slot 48, thelever 42 and the platform I j 38 will'swing downwardly, the rod 60 moving y top whe es-s; ing 31-and carry stops 53. Each "of the stops 53' supporting rod il which extends through a slot 6| provided in a." side of the casing 31. In'the position of thef, platform 36 shown in full lines infligure 3, the w along with the platform 38. Thus the-lever 51 will not be: supported" any more by the rod 60 and theweight 58-will move downwardly, turningthe lever 51 about its pivot 59 and moving the'rod upwardly out of its position across thechannels 54; e v

I Each of the channels 54is in communication with a separate vertical upper passage 62. Passages 63 are situated directly below the tubes '62, and enclose openings 64 in the platform 44 (Fig. 4 Six inclined tubes 65 lead from the openings 64 to'the six locations markedl to 6-and assigned to the six players. Thus the hands of five playing units which are customarily used in playing draw poker are allocated andcounted accurately and the balls are transmittedto th players from thechannels 54. i

The front of the casing 31 includes six doors 6.6 (Figs. 1. and13) which are attached by hinges fillto-theplatform 44 and which are situated close to the six passages 63. The doors 65 are interconnected by a rod "68 one end of which carried a knob69 and extends through a slot 10 provided in a side of the casing 31. In the illustrated position, the doors do not interfere with the passage of the balls toward the tubes 65. However, the doors maybe swung downwardly by. shifting the knobfifi to the right hand end ofgthe slot 1!] (looking in the direction of Figurel), and then the doors 66 will close the openings 64. As will be described hereinaftenthis arrangement is utilized in the game of stud poker.

.Thedealing device 25 is mounted mainly upon the lower fixed platform 44. It includes two converging guides H leading toward six selector keys 12 marked 1 to 6; respectively. Each key. l2-has an elongated body 13 which extends upwardly through a slot "formed in the top of the casing 31 (Fig. 4). The body 13 is pivoted at 15 intermediate its ends and its lower end has the form of a semi-cylindrical member 'lfiiwhich is wide enough to hold a ball 2|] situ-' ated upon the platform 44. The keys 12 are held in the illustrated positions by springs 11. The space directly beneath each key 12 is in communication with a separate passage 63 by means of guides 18 forming channels 19 (Fig. 2). The semieoylindrical holders 1B are of such dimensions andare so located, that each of them may receiveone ball directed by the guides II. The channels 19 are so .arranged that each key 12 will discharge its ball into a separate channel when the key is turned inwardly about its pivot 15. The channels 19 lead'to passages63 andlare so disposed that a channel 19 ending at the key marked 1 is in communication with that passage 63 which communicates with the tube. 65.1eading to the location marked .1, and so.forth.. Thus a turning of each key" will deliver an additional ball to the location bearing the same number as the key which has been turned. i

Six holders 8|] are situated at the locations marked 1 to 6 which are assignedto the players or contestants (Fig. 1). These holders are located inwindows alprovided in the side walls |8jofthe table 2|. Each holder includes a channel orball carrier 32 which extends across the Window 8| and one end of which is situated directly below an opening 83 communicating with a,-,.tube 65. Thus the balls .20 transmitted by'the tubes 55 are receivedin the carriers 82 where they are. clearly visible to the. individual players. However, each of the carriers .82 .is so located aseeoea in they window 8|v and: below theitop Jofzthe. table 2| that the balls-upon-that carrier arevisible; only to the player assigned to that particular location. Racks J84which: hold the.poker. chips. are situated between the windows 8|. and provide.- additional concealment.

If necessary, the balls in the holders 80 may be further concealed by theinstallation ofrrailrings (Fig. l') andthe like."

It-is apparent from the above that thezballs; 2%! are concealed from the players while they are: being moved or while they roll throughout the machine and until they emerge through the openings 83- and 'drop into the' carriers 82, at which time each hand of the balls is readily visible and accessible to its player. The carriers 82 are supported by a vertically disposed line ofkbrush. or bristles 85 carried by bars 8'! which are suspended upon hinges 88 by angular supports 85. The brush: 86 may: serve" as a convenient retaining wall'enabling the player to discard any one of his balls.

The front of the casing 31' includes a trap door 9| having the form of an inverted box situated in front of the keys 12 and: over an opening 92 leading to the hopper 29 (Fig; 5). The trap door 9| is connected by hinges93 to the platform-44 and carries a handle 94;

The trap door 9| may beoperat'ed'to dislodge the balls when theybecome blockedor jammed when descending into the keys T2.

The device 26 which is used in the game of stud poker is situated in front of the casing 31' upontheexposed part ofthe platform 44. The device includes parallel guides 95 forming six channels 95' which extend between the doors 66' and trap doors- 91; Each trap door 9'! is hinged at 9|?to the platform 44 (Fig. 3) and has-an upturnededge 99 facing its channel 96. Thetrap doors 9! cover opening I00 leading to the hopper (Fig. 3). The edges 99 maintain the balls 26 in the channels 96' when the trap doors 537 are closed.

. As already stated, the machine may be used for playing draw poker aswell as stud poker. In allgames the rolling of the balls 20 by force of gravity is utilized for carrying out the various steps of the game.

The balls which are'collected in the lower portion ofthe wheel 23 (Figs. 3 and 6) by'the hopper 29 are mixed by rotating the wheel in a direction in which the straight portion 35' of the baffles 33 will shift. and turn the mass of balls, thereby effecting a more efficient and thorough mixing and shufiiing than can ordinarily be" attained through hand shufiiing of playing cards. Then the wheel is rotated in the opposite direction and in the course of this rotation each baffle 33 will entrap some of the balls and lift them to the uppermost chamber 28, so that the balls will roll down the inclined surface 54 of a baffle and into the chamber 28;. A few such revolutions of the wheel 23 will lift all the balls necessary for the playing of the game into the chamber 28.

When the knob. is in the lefthand position shown in Figure l, the platform 38 of the chamber 28. is heldby the lever 42 in alinement with the immovable platform 4|. If the stops 53 are raised, the balls will roll down the platform 38- and into the six channels 54 carried by the platform 4|; until they are stopped by the rod 5!. The location of the rod 5| is so selected that ,each'of the six channels 54 .upon the platform will carry fiveballs. Thus. fiveballhands, which are. the

eduivalen'tof five. card hands used in draw poker."

are allocated to the six players.

- Then theoperator moves. theknob 41 to the right hand end. ofthe slot 43 (Fig. 1), thereby.

turning downwardly the lever .42, and the plat:

form 38 and moving the rod 60 out of engage-.

ment with thelever 51. Then the weight. 58

will swing the'lever 51 and raisethe rod permitting the ballsto -roll,in the channels 54 and to drop through the upper vertical passages 62, the lower passages 63 and the. opening 64 into the inclined .tubes 65 which lead to the carriers 82 located at the six locations marked 1 00.6 and assigned to the six players. The doors 6B are in their' raised positions at .that time. Thus each player receives a hand of five balls.

When the platform 38 is moved to its inclined position, at least twenty two balls located upon that platform will roll downwardly upon the platform 44 and will be guided by the guides H as two parallel, single columns or files toward the keys I2. The first six balls will be held by the ends I6 of the keys I2.

The players can discard some or all of the balls carried by the holders 82 by pressing the balls to be discarded through the bristles 86. The balls drop upon the inclined surfaces of the hopper 29 (Fig. 4) and roll toward the wheel 23.

Upon discarding, each player may draw from the residue of the balls upon the platform 44 the same number of balls which he discarded. This is accomplished by operating the key 12 marked with the same numeral which is allotted to the players. Thus the operator may quickly deal to any player the number of balls, one at'a time, which that player desires to draw and calls for.

As the drawing operation has filled and completed the hand of each contestant, the betting, withdrawing and determination of the winning hand may proceed in the same manner as that used in playing draw poker withplaying cards.

A player shows his winning hand by swinging his holder 80 about its hinges 33, as shown by broken lines in Figure '7. The support 89 is so bent that it fits conveniently around the edge of the table, while the carrier 82 and the balls carried thereby will be raised above the table. These balls may be dumped conveniently upon the top of the table 2| and will roll along inclined surfaces to the apertures 90; they drop through these apertures into the hopper 29. g

The game of stud poker involves the additional use of the device 26. g

The channels 96 of the device 20 are separated by doors 60 from the passages 63 connected with the keys I2 by the channels I9 (Figs. 2 and 4). When the knob 60 is moved to the right hand end of the'slot I0 (Fig. 1), the doors 66 are swung downwardly to close the openings 64 and provide a direct connection between each key I2 and a separate channel Q6. Each turning of a key I2 will now cause a ball to roll into the corresponding channel 95. When the knob 69 is returned to' its left hand position, the keys 12 will be again connected to the holders 80. By manipulating the knob 60 any ball 20 can be dealt down, i. e. concealed in a holder 80, or dealt up, i. e. ex posed in a channel 96, thus duplicating the concealed and unooncealed dealing which is used in playing stud poker.

Balls situated in the channels 95 are discharged by opening the trap doors 9! and permitting the balls to drop through the openings I00 into the hopper 29 (Fig. 3). Balls situated in the carriers 82 may be pushed through the brushes 85 the lever 94. descend into the wheel 23, the round, of. play'is completed and the next round will be a repetition of thatidescribed. v a The keys 12, the open channel ,device 26 .and' theiparts cooperating therewith maybe used. separately for playing various, games of solitaire and similargames which are now played by the use of playing cards.

Thestud poker machine shown in Figures .8.. to 10 of the drawings may have the form of a table IOI approximately twenty six inches square. with a place on each side for one of the four,

contestants. The table may be made of wood and metal parts, .but a satisfactory table canalso be made of plastics and other suitable materials. The table can be round, oblongor other shapes and it can be of any suitable dimensions. 'A case having the form of a box can be used instead of thetable. y The table IOI has side walls I02 carryingan inner support I 03 and an outer support I04 serving as bearings for the shaft I5 of a mixing.- 1

wheel I296. The shaft I05 carries a crank II5. The wheel I06 may be about nine inches in diameter and have a rim about two and one quarter inches wide, but it admits of considerable V departure from these dimensions.

The wheel I06 has four partition walls I01 and is in communication with a hopper I08 constituting the bottom of the table, and with a deal ing chamber. I09. 1

Balls. 20 used in the game may be the same as those previously described and have one inch in diameter. within the machine from their highest location in the chamber I09 to their lowest location in When the wheel IOB.is rotated in the opposite direction, namely, in the direction'of the arrow I I l, the walls I01 will mix and shuflie the balls 20 situated in the wheel I06 and in the adjacent part ofthe hopper I08.

Two metal strips H2 and H3 situated in the wheel I05'are sufiiciently wide to cover the pockets H4 of the. walls I01 and have elongated slots H6. and H1, respectively, through which the shaft I05 extends; The pockets H4 are dimen sionedv to hold one ball each. As thewheel I00 rotates in the direction ofthe arrow H0, a' strip drops by gravity and closes a pocket H4 when that pocket is'in the lower position, thereby entrapping the ball in the pocket; the ball islraise'd' by the further rotation of the wheel, whereupon the strip drops again by gravity and opens the pocket when the pocketis near its highest position. Thus the balls'are singled out of thepockets H4 and are released one at a'time into the chamber I9 leading to the dealing tube- I I8.

The rear wallof the wheel I06 maybe provided' with four holes I31 situated opposite the pockets H4; The" crank H5 may be eliminated and the wheel I06 may be conveniently rotated by. an operator who may insert a finger in one of the holes I31. I Thewheel I06 may be partly en- The balls drop or roll'by gravity- Each pocket H4 is open e of the tube H8.

I24 which may be placed directly over that open-. ing I23 which is covered by the tube. The open- 1 is completed when wlllibe dealt whenever al'hole 13-! isjbroughtopposite the indicia I39.

The chamber N18 is provided 'with an opening vEI.I.9 situated directly above :an' opening I28 pro- :vided in' the dealing-tubeI l8.

The dealingtube I I8 is swingably mounted upon a pin or pivot I 2| which is carriedby the-upper platform I22 of the table IDI, Four openings-I23:

are provided in the table top I22 and are so located inxrela'tion to the dealingtube II'8 that.

they-may :be selectively covered by the outer end The tube Il8 has an opening lings I23 are in communication with inclined Qtroughs or channels I25 leading tofour ball holders I 26 which are located in Windows I 21 at places to be occupied by the four players.

The outerlend of the tube H8 has. an opening 1-2-1. A'door I28 is hinged at I29 to the tube H8 and carries a lever or handle I36 to facilitateits manipulation. The door I28 may be swung to close the opening I21 or the. opening I24.

Thetable top I22 carries parallel guides I3I forming four channels I32 which extend between the'openingsl23 and trap doors I33 hinged at I34 ,to'the table top I22 and having raisededges I35 which'face thechannels I32. The trap doors I33 coveropenings I36 leading to the hopper 166 con- :stituting-the bottom of the table.

The distributing tube H8 and the tabletop I22 are inclined in a direction away from the wheel I86 so thatwhen the door I28closes the opening 124, balls will roll out of :the tube IlBthrough Y 'Thesemixing and dealing wheels 23 or I66 may -be ,used independently"of-"other parts of the .mafzchines as number selecting devices for the pur- "pose of selecting a lot or a winning ticket or .lnumber outof a large mass of tickets sold by churches, fraternal societies and the like. that purpose, the wheels may be enlarged and the "balls numbered to correspond with the numbers ontthe tickets sold. The operations, including the 'movementof the balls from the hopper into the 1 wheel, the mixing of the balls. when the wheel is turned in one direction and the allocation and discharge of the ballssingly when the wheel is turning in the opposite direction, can, by-approthe opening I21 and into a channel I32. On the" other hand, when the opening -I2 I..is closed by the'door I23, the balls 20 will drop through the Openings I24and I23 and will roll down the chan-.

.nels I25 to the holders I26. .Thus the balls may be singly dealt down and concealed ordealteup and made visible to all the players, thereby simulating a similar dealing of playing-cards in games of the various kinds of stud poker. in the wheel I06, the chamber I39, thftubeIIB and the channels I25 are invisibleto the players.

The ballholders I26 may be substantiall'ysimilar to those previously described and .are suspended upon hinges in-the table windows I21, 50'- that the holders I26 may be swung above,the table top ?I22 to discharge the balls which they carry on top of thetable. I

The table top I22 carries rails or guides I40 and includes surfaces which are inclined inthe' being deduced from balls visible in a channel I32 and balls in-the corresponding lidlderIZ-S which is swung upwardly by the winner to reveal such balls to'the other players. The round of play all balls are returned to'..the

hopper I08. i

It is apparent'that the illustrated playing elements and described games are, capable of. wide variation and modification Without departing from the intent, principles or spirit of thepresent invention.

Balls rolling priate construction of the apparatus, be concealed to whatever extent is desired, or made visible in Whole 'or inpart. Thus the selection of the winning numbers would belwholly mechani'calrwithout. thercontact-ofthe human hand, but each step ofthe process may be made visible. l

' The aboveand other variations and modifications arepto be included within the scope of the present invention. 1 i

What isclaimed'is: 1 1

l; Anapparatus simulating the playing of card games, wherein the cards are replaced by balls carrying card indicia, said apparatus comprising, in combination, means .for mixing said balls and raising them to an elevated position, means hav-' ing 'in'clinedoauseways leading from said elevated position tea plurality of players locations for selectively "delivering said balls to said locations by causing said balls to roll by'gravity upon said causeways, holders at said locations for receiv- Ting said balls, means concealing the balls ina holder .at each location from View from other locations, :means swingably supporting said holders to exp'ose the winning balls in a holder, and a hopper :for transmitting balls discarded from said holders to said mixing and raising means.

ZIAhold'e'r for a plurality of balls carrying card :in'dicia', said holder comprising a groove-like ball carrier, a line of brush having ends connected to ane'dge of"said carrier, and suspending means An apparatus simulating the playing of card "games; wherein the cards are replaced by balls.

carrying card indicia,said apparatus comprising, in combination, means constituting grooves, each .of' saidgrooves being adapted to contain a predetermined number of said balls, locking means maintaining said number of balls in said grooves, aimovable platform adapted to connect said position with said grooves and to interrupt this .connection, means actuating said locking means to release the ballsinsaid grooves when said platform interrupts the connection between said po- ;sition andsaid grooves, and means transmitting balls released from each groove to a separate players location. i

4, An apparatus simulating the playing of card games, wherein the cards are replaced by balls carrying card indicia, said apparatus comprising, in; combination,. a swingable platfoi'mreceiving said balls, an immovable platformreceiving balls iromsaid swingable platform in the raised position of the latter, guidescarried by said immovable platform and forming a plurality ofgrooves thereon, a rod. adapted to extend across said grooves to hold a predetermined number of balls therein, a pivoted lever having one end connected For of said lever, means connected with 'said swingable platform and engaging said lever' to maintain said rod in its holding position when said swingable platform is in its raised position; a lever supporting said swingable platform in its raised position and movable out of engagement there,- with to lower said swingableplatform, whereby said lever-engaging means release said leverand whereby-a turning of said lever caused by said weight moves said rod out of its'holding position,

- and means transmitting balls released from each groove to aseparate players' location.

5. An apparatus simulating the playing of card games, wherein thecards are replaced by balls carrying card indicia, saidapparatus comprising, in combination, means for mixing and raising said balls, ball-containing holders at a plu- -rality of players locations, means concealing the balls in a holder at each location from view from other locations, means constituting open ball-containing channels visible from all locations, means selectively transmitting the raised balls to said holders and said channels, and means for-supplying discarded balls from said holders and said channels to said mixing and raising means.

6. An apparatus simulating the playing of card games, wherein the cards are replaced by balls carrying card indicia, said apparatus comprising,

in combination, ball-containing holders at a plurality of playerslocations, means concealing the balls in a, holder at each locationfrom view from other locations, a casing containing said balls and having twosets. of openings formed therein,

doors for selectively closing each set of openings, 'tubes connecting one set of openings with said holders, an open platform adjacent saidcasing, and guides carried by said open platform" and I constituting channels communicating with said .other set of openings and visible from all locations. I

7. Anjapparatus simulating the playing of card games, wherein the cards are replaced by balls carrying card indicia, said apparatus comprising,

' in combination, ball-containing holders at a plurality of players locations',-means concealing-the balls in a holder at each location from view from other locations, a swingable casing receiving raised balls and having two openings formed therein, a door selectively closing each opening,

an open platform, guides carried by said open" platform and constituting channels visible from all locations, said open platform having openings formed therein, tubes connecting the openings formed in said open platform with said holders,

means swingably supporting said casing to con-' meet one of the openings formed in said casing with any one of the openings formed in said open platform and to connect the 'other one of the openings formed in said casing with any one of ''said channels, depending upon the position of said door, and means for supplying discarded balls from said holders and said channels for the purpose of raising said balls. Y a

8. An apparatus simulating the'pla'ying of card games, wherein the cards ar replaced by balls carrying card indicia, said apparatus comprising,

in combination, a casing enclosing atleast one channel formed" therein and transmitting said balls, a plurality of keys 'pivo-tally mounted one behind the other in said casing and having semicylindrical ends each holding one ball situated in said channel, and means constituting other channels formed therein and extending toward said keys transversely to the first-mentioned channel, whereby said keys when swung selecof players locations. n I I 9. An apparatus simulating the playing of card a holder. 7

tively remove the balls held in said ends from the first-mentioned channel to said other chan-' nels, said other channels extending to-a plurality games, wherein the cards are replaced by balls carrying card indicia, said apparatus comprising, in combination, ball-containing holders at a plurality of players location s, means concealing the balls in'a holder at-each location from view from other locations, a platform, guides carried by said platform and constituting channels visibl from I alllocations, means selectively transmitting the balls to said holders and to one end of said chain-,-

nels, said platform having openingsiformed,

therein and situated at the other end of said channels, said channels being inclined toward said openings, trap doors closing saidopenings and maintaining the balls in said channels when said openings are closed, and a hopper situated adjacent said holders and communicating with said openings for supplying balls discarded from, said holdersand through said openings for'the I purpose of raising said balls.

10. An apparatus simulating the 'playing' cf card games, wherein the cards are replaced by balls carrying card indicia, said'apparatuscomprising, in combination, means having inclined causeways leadin from an elevated position to a plurality of players locations forselectively'delivering said balls to said locations-by causing said balls to roll by gravity upon said caus'eways,

means selectively interrupting the supply of said,

balls from said elevated position to any one of said locations, and means for supplying discarded raisof balls to a plurality of players locations, hold ers' at said locations for receiving said balls, means for transmitting balls discarded by players from said holders for the purpose of raising said'balls, means co-mmunicatingwith said balldelivering means for transmitting additional balls to said players locations, whereby said additional balls replace balls discarded by the play-,-

ers, and means swingably supporting said holders to expose the winning .balls. in a holder,

12 An apparatus simulating the playing of card. games, wherein the cards ar replaced by balls carrying card indicia, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a casing constituting the top of a table having a plurality of sides, means within saidtable top for dividing the balls into counted sets, windows formedin said table top at the sides thereof and constituting locations for the players, each window being visible toits player and-concealed from other players,- means within said casing for delivering said sets of balls to said windows, the movement-ofthe balls within saidlcasing being concealed from the players ;until the delivery of the balls, holderssituated in said windows and receiving said balls,. means .within said casing for transmitting balls discarded by players from said holders for the purpose of raising said balls, and means swingably sup porting said holders for raising them to the table top and thereby displaying the winning balls in JOHN J. mortar, 

